Bobbin small-end holder for loom filling feeders



I May 21, 1957 J. D. TICE 2,792,849

BOBBIN SMALL-END HOLDER FOR LOOM FILLING FEEDERS Filed July 12, 1955 E 1 1 I INVENTOR; JOHN D. 7705 ATTORNEYS United States Patent BOBBIN SMALL-END HOLDER FOR LOOM FILLING FEEDERS John D. Tice, Marion, N. C. Application July 12, 1955, Serial No. 521,596

7 Claims. (Cl. 139-448) This invention relates to automatic filling-replenishing looms and, more especially, to an improved bobbin smallend or tip holder for filling feeders.

The present invention is concerned with improvements in loom magazines such as are disclosed in the patent to Stimpson, No. 834,945 dated November 6, 1906, wherein quills, bobbins or filling carriers are stored in a rotatable hopper comprising spaced large end and smaller end bobbin disks, the tips or smaller ends of the bobbins being retained in recesses formed in spring-actuated bobbin small-end or tip holders which are secured in radial slots in the periphery of a bobbin small-end disk.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved bobbin small-end holder or tip holder for retaining the tip of a filling carrier or bobbin in the battery and which permits the filling end to be drawn oif substantially axially of the bobbin so that any rotation of the bobbin which may occur during rotation of the hopper of the battery and which may tend to take up the yarn from its point of anchor will merely permit the convolutions of filling or yarn thus formed to pass off the small end or tip of the bobbin.

The desired results are obtained by providing a bore or hole in the bobbin tip holder which is of slightly lesser diameter than the diameter of the small-end or tip of the bobbin or filling carrier and wherein the inner surface of the said tip holder is countersunk at the bore to form a seat for the tip of the bobbin, the outer diameter of the tapered recess or seat thus formed being equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the slightly rounded tip of the bobbin.

Thus, the filling or yarn passes from the free end or tip of the bobbin between the proximal surfaces of the tip of the bobbin and the tip seat and then substantially axially from the bobbin to the anchoring means or disk. Thus, as the bobbin tends to rotate relative to the tip holder, the frictional contact between the tip of the bobbin and the tip seat in the bobbin holder resists the unintentional withdrawal of yarn from the bobbin. However, it will permit any convolutions of the yarn, formed adjacent the tip of the bobbin by rotation of the bobbin, to slip off the end of the bobbin as the yarn end is placed under relatively increased tension.

The free end of the tip holder is provided with a slot which communicates with the bore and the countersunk cavity or seat for the bobbin tip, which slot is provided to permit the yarn to pass therethrough during transfer of the bobbin to the shuttle.

Since the filling end or yarn then extends substantially axially from the tip of the bobbin, this also insures that the filling is presented properly to the threading instrumentality of the shuttle thereby insuring the introduction of a filling into the shuttle eye with the next succeeding pick of the loom.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a loom with a magazine or battery mounted thereon with portions of the magazine or battery being shown in section to illustrate the improved bobbin tip holder;

Figure 5 is an isometric view of one of the improved bobbin tip holders removed from the bobbin small-end disk.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, a rotary magazine or battery is illustrated and includes a hopper stand 10 fixed upon the end of the usual breast beam 11 and which comprises an upwardly extending flanged circular plate 12 having a central stud which carries the hub 14 of the rotating disks or plates of a filling feeder which supports a circular series of quills, bobbins or filling carriers, each of the bobbins shown being broadly designated at B. The base of each bobbin B is indicated at 15 and the tip of the stern of each bobbin is indicated at 16, each bobbin B having yarn Y wound on the stem thereof.

The bases 15 of the bobbins B are supported in sockets in a bobbin-base disk 18 enclosed within the flange of the disk 12. The tips of the bobbins are supported by improved tip holders 20 to be later described in detail. The tip holders 20 are usually mounted in an outer or bobbin small-end disk generally designated at 21 which is fixed to or integral with the hub 14. A ratchet wheel 22 fixed on the hub 14 provides means for rotating the magazine hopper or filling feeder intermittently to successively present filled bobbins B to transferring position.

Rotation is imparted to ratchet wheel 22 by means of a pawl 23 actuated from the usual transfer mechanism in a manner well known in the art and a detailed description is deemed unnecessary. A shaft fixed in the hub 14 'rotates therewith and has a thread-guiding disk or wheel 25 fixed thereon which is provided with the usual notches in the periphery thereof in substantial alinement with the axes of the filling carriers or bobbins B so the yarn or filling end Y extends axially from the free end of each bobbin, over the periphery of the guiding disk 25 and then downwardly where it is anchored to a filling end holder 26 around which the ends of the filling or yarn Y are wound, the filling end holder 26 being suitably attached to the central portion of the thread-guiding disk 25.

The parts heretofore described are usual parts of a loom battery with which the improved bobbin tip holder 20 is associated. The improved bobbin tip holder 20 is gen erally of conventional construction with the exception of the manner in which the outer end or free end portion thereof is formed as will be more fully described hereinafter.

An annular portion 30 of the bobbin small-end disk 21 is bent or formed outwardly and is provided with radial, circularly spaced recess 31 for receiving the improved tip holders 20. The tip holders 20 are each provided with a hook-shaped inner end 32 which engages an annular flange 33 on the outer face of the bobbin small end disk 21. The tip holders each also includes an elongated body portion 34 and the free outer end of the body portion 34 is provided with laterally extending projections or ears 35, 36 which are adapted to engage the ends of projections 37 on the small-end disk 21 defining adjacent recesses 31.

A spring 40 seats against the off-set portion 30 of the disk 21 and bears against the body 34 of each bobbin tip holder 20 to thereby normally urge the ears 35, 36 into outer endor tip 16 engages the yieldable tip holder 20' with sufficient force-to normally retain the bobbin 8 in proper position. Heretofore, the outer portions'of the tip holders 20 have been-so constructed that the filling end led from the bobbinoutwardly over grooves formed in the periphery of the bobbin small-end disk 21 intermediate of the tip holders or over guides in one of the flanges or ears 35, 36' of the tip holder.

In either instance, the filling end was led at an abrupt angle to the axis of the bobbin or quill B so that any rotation of the'bobbin-about its-axis, which may have oourred during intermittent rotation of the filling feeder would, in many instances, cause theyarn Y to be wound so tightly about the-tip 16 of the corresponding bobbin as to break the filling end.

In 'order'to overcome this difiiculty, i have provided a relatively small circular hole or bore 45 which is alined axially of the corresponding bobbin'B when the base 15 thereof is positioned in the corresponding recess in the disk 18' enclosed in the circular plate 12. This bore or circular opening'45 is formed in the tip holder 20' and the inner surface of the tip holder 20 is countersunk to form a circular bobbin tip seat 2 6 which is formed of slightly greater external diameter than the external diameter of the tip 16 of the corresponding bobbin B. The bore or hole'45' is of substantially lesser diameter than the tip 16 of the corresponding bobbin B. The surface of the seat 46 is preferably concave to accommodate the rounded edge of the tip 16 of the bobbin B. Thus, when the bobbin B is positioned as shown in Figure 4, it will be observed that the filling end passes substantially axially from the tip 16 of the bobbin B through the hole 45 and any rotation of the bobbin B about its axis, which may occur during intermittent rotation of the filling feeder and which would cause the yarn Y to tighten about the exposed portion of the tip 16, will not cause breakage of the'filling end, because the filling end is drawn'between the rounded peripheral edge of the tip 16 and the seat 46 to thereby enable any tautened turns of yarn to slide off the free end of the tip '16. However, tension in the yarn is maintained due to the frictional contact of the rounded peripheral edge ofthe tip 16 with the seat 46.

Now, in order to insure that the filling end is properly positioned and properly presented to'the shuttle in the course of each transfer operation, the outer end of the improved tip holder 2% is provided with a slot or passageway 47 therein which communicates with the hole 45 and the seat 46 and-also communicates with the free end of the tiph'older 2G, opposed walls of the slot 47 preferably diverging outwardly so that the slot 47 is substantially V-shaped as shown in Figure 2. This shape of each slot 47 assists in guiding the yarn out of the hole 45 during the course of each transfer operation.

It is thus seen that I have provided an improved tip holder for loom batteries or magazines which is provided with a hole therein in axial alinement which the tip of the bobbin may be positioned and which hole 'is of lesser diameter'than thediameter of the bobbin tip and which is also countersunk to form a concave seat for the rounded peripheral edge of the tip of the corresponding bobbin so that inadvertent rotation of the bobbin will not break the yarn but, instead, will merely permit the yarn to be drawn off the free end of the tip 16 of the corresponding bobbin and the frictional contact between thetip 16 and seat 46'will insure thatthe filling end is maintained under sufi'icient tension toinsure proper positioning of the yarn with each transfer operation. This proper positioning of the-yarn-is, ofcourse, further insured by the slot 47 leading from each hole 45.

In the drawings and specification there has beenset forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a battery for looms having a rotatable disk with a circular series of means for supporting bases of bobbins and a second disk spaced axially from and rotatable with the first disk; the combination of an improved tip holder for the tip of each bobbin and yieldably mounted in the second disk, each holder having a hole therein of lesser diameter than and axially alined with the tip of each corresponding bobbin, the tip holder alsobeing countersunk in substantially axial-alinement with the hole to form a seat for receiving the tipofthe corresponding bobbin, the seat beingof an external diameter substantially the same as the diameter of thetip of the bobbin, saidhole and said seat being spaced from the outer endof the corresponding tip holder, and said tip' holder having'a slot extending from its outer end and communicating with the hole and the seat whereby filling ends are guided axially from the bobbins and pass through the slots during transfer of the bobbins.

2. A structure according to claim 1 wherein said bobbin tip seat is concave.

3. A stmcture-according to claim 1 wherein walls define said slot and said walls extend outwardly in diverging relation froni the hole in the corresponding tip holder and are spaced closer together at their inner ends than the diameter of the hole.

4. In a filling feeder for automatic filling replenishing looms, sai-d'feeder having at least support for the base of a bobbin; the combination of an improved tip holder complementary to the supportfor holding the tip of a bobbin, said itp holder having a substantially circular recess forming a seat therein for the tip of a bobbin and being of substantially the same diameter as the bobbin tip, said holder having a substantially circular opening therein of lesser diameter than said bobbin tip and being substantially axially alined with said seat, said seat and opening being spacedfrom opposite ends of the holder, and said holder having a slot therein extending from one end of theholder to said opening.

5. A structure according to claim 4 wherein said bobbin tip seat is concave.

6. A structure according to claim 4 wherein walls define said slot andsaid walls extend outwardly in diverging relation from the opening in the corresponding tip holder and are spaced closer together at their inner ends than the diameter of the opening.

7. In a battery for looms havinga rotatable disk with a circular series of means for supporting bases of bobbins and a second disk spaced axially from and rotatable with the first disk; the combination of an improved tip holder for thetip ofeach bobbin and yieldably mounted in the second disk, each holder having a hole therein of lesser diameter than and axially alined with thetip of each corresponding bobbin, the tip holder also being countersunk in substantially axial alinement with the hole to form a seat for receiving the tip of the corresponding bobbin, the seat being of an external diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the tip of the bobbin, said hole and said seat being spaced from the outer end of the corresponding tip holder, and said tip holder having a slot extending from its outer end and communi eating with the hole and the seat whereby filling ends are guided axially from the bobbins and pass through the slots during transferofthe bobbins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 755,252 Stimpson Mar. 22, 1904 834,945 Stimpson Nov. 6, 1906 1,274,352 Mills July 30, 1918' 

